Aerialist brings 'circus arts' to New Bedford

And suddenly it occurs to you — you'd always wanted to join the circus. But who knew you'd ever learn to fly?

For the past year, Teresa Kochis, founder of Overhead Arts, has been offering classes in aerial arts at her New Bedford loft in the Ropeworks Building. Students learn how to climb and perform a variety of ballet-like moves while hanging from lengths of fabric suspended from the 20-foot ceiling.

For Kochis, the greatest reward as a teacher is not just how acrobatic a student can be, but seeing people overcome self-imposed boundaries and achieve goals that seemed impossible.

"If you're open to the challenges in aerial arts, it can be very liberating," Kochis says. "It puts you a little out of your comfort zone at first. It's a different world. Most people are surprised by it, because they thought they couldn't do something like this."

Kochis says that the thrill of "the circus arts" quickly overcomes the fear of the unknown.

"It can be exhilarating and fun. The movement helps to release endorphins and gives you a burst of adrenaline. You can get a real emotional lift as well as a physical one. When you're high up in the air, there's something naturally inspiring about it. It feels great."

The midair movements have names like double foot lock, candy cane roll-up and ankle hang. Kochis' students expressed a wide range of benefits they've derived from such maneuvers — including the pure novelty of it all.

"I like that the aerial arts are a nontraditional form of exercise," says Melanie Ungvarsky, 30, of New Bedford. "It's very beautiful and fluid, and the choreography is amazing."

"It's a lot more fun than push-ups," says 32-year old Bryan Kreusch of New Bedford. "I've spent the last two years working a desk job, and I'm not a fan of gyms. Here, I'm getting a full body workout."

Kochis says that one of the first challenges in the aerial arts is developing the upper body strength required to pull yourself up the two drapes she refers to as "fabrics," made from Spandex and stress tested for safety.

"It can be arduous at first," she says. "When you're new to it, you probably don't have an ample amount of energy and strength. It's something you have to build up. Early on, it can have some challenges, and you'll have to understand the correct alignment of your body. But eventually you'll be able to move with more confidence in the air."

Mary Beth Oliveira says the program helped her develop core body strength, though the initial going was tough.

"On the first day I could barely climb at all," says the 27-year-old New Bedford resident. "But now I'm doing splits and inverting myself. I can do things more independently."

Christine Oliveira, 25, who travels from Providence to attend Overhead Arts, says she's learned to relax in the air.

"I'm more confident and I don't feel unsafe," she says. "I'm surprised that I'm able to do something this cool."

Kochis, a 31-year-old native of Birmingham, Ala., discovered the aerial arts when she was 17. In 1997, she began attending Atlanta's Circus Arts Institute, founded by professional aerialist Carrie Heller.

"I was captivated by all of the creative possibilities," Kochis recalls. "It was life-changing on a lot of levels. It was a huge confidence builder. It helped me get out of my shell. Once you start to use your body and strengthen yourself, you begin to appreciate being healthy. It really pulled me in."

Then, at the age of 19, Kochis did what so many artists do. She moved to New York City. "New York is great for artists," she says, "but it's also a hard city to live in for a creative person. You have to work very hard to make ends meet. You have access to so much, but at the same time you're always working."

Kochis enrolled in New York University, earning a degree in visual arts and aerial dance in 2002. She's performed with a number of aerial, experimental, dance and circus groups in the United States and abroad.

Kochis and partner Andy Anello, an artist, discovered the opportunities in New Bedford by researching online. Last spring, they moved into the Ropeworks on Sawyer Street in the city's North End.

"We discovered that New Bedford has a lot going for it right now," she says. "It's improved in many ways in recent years. I enjoy being in an environment that really appreciates the arts. People in this area are seeing what the arts can do for a community."

Kochis has also seen what the aerial arts can do for urban youth. While in New York, she was the city's coach coordinator for Cirque du Monde, a social outreach program of the world-famous Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Monde works with at-risk youth in cities around the world.

"When you work in communities going through hardship or with kids who are on the edge, you see that they could go in one direction or another. Sometimes the arts can take them to a positive place. When young people start practicing 'circus,' they get all sorts of positive life skills from it such as self-confidence and being able to work well with their peers. The arts can teach valuable lessons to young people.

"If you practice this art form, you'll learn more than how to climb," Kochis says. "You'll feel more confident."

Beginning June 5, her classes of no more than six students will be held at 6 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 4 p.m. Saturdays. Thursday's classes will be for "absolute beginners."

Other plans include a trapeze class, a children's class and a student showcase. Kochis can be reached at overheadarts@yahoo.com or 508-990-0548.

"People come to these classes for different reasons," Kochis says. "It's fun and it's a great way to be fit. Some may do it with the hope of becoming a performer. But to have success in the aerial arts you need two things — perseverance and the willingness to put yourself in a new situation."

Ungvarsky relishes the challenge.

"It's good to push yourself," she says. "But at the same time, stay patient and don't get frustrated."

"Putting together a great performance means putting together a lot of little building blocks," Kochis says. "Once you do that, the creative potential is limitless."

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